National Republican., 1887-11-25
The Only Democratic Principle.

The high standard in political principles
which the Democratic party has adopted
can best be told by the utterances OF its
leading newspapers. The stream never
rises highort than the fountain, and the party
IL never better than its mouthpieces-"from
the fullness OF the heart the mouth speak
eth" so we get the Democratic principles
from the papers which speak for the party
The New York Hadid is now and has
been for three years an outspoken Demo-
cratic paper, and most particularly an ad.
ministration paper. A few days since, In a
leading editorial, it said
The main thing now is to elect Democratic
President next year. If that can be best done
by passing or attempting to pass tariff reform
measure this winter, all right. We shall be
very happy But before embarking on that
policy we advise Mr.. Carlisle to make care
fu count ofstates and see where the tariff re-
form electoral votes are coming from next
year, and whether there will be enough OF
them.
Quoting this, the Birmingham (Ala.)
Iierdid, easily the leading paper in that
state, says:
This is good sense and worthy Of careful con-
sideration. = "The main thing now is
to elect a Democratic President next year"
That is the truth, and the important point to
be looked to. The good of the country in
large degree depends on 1t, and for the wei.
fare of the Democratic party is absolutely
necessary.
The Herdli, is like Its New York name
sake, in favor OF protection, but the article
from which the above Is extracted ad-
vises the protection men In Congress to
surrender everything rather than jeopardize
the interests of the party and closes
1.-THE main point now is to elect Demo.
cratic President next year." That is the key
note, and let the Democrats in the coming
Congress govern themselves accordingly.
The Nashville american, the leading
Democratic paper OF Tennessee and a con.
sistent advocate OF protection, in au arti-
Gle entitled "First Of all, Democratic Su.
premacy," says:
our whole duty lies in the direction of per.
retuating In power the party which has done
SO much for the country, and especially for the
south. Every issue should be by
Democrats, subordinated to this one centra
and cardinal idea; no chickering's should be al.
lowed to creep into our Democratic household
which could by any possibility jeopardize this
result.
The position OF the Louisville Courier
journal is well known; 1t has opposed
Cleveland and his administration in every
thing but its freetrade ideas, and yet It IL
hurrahing for Cleveland.
This list might be indefinitely extended
and include all the so called "exponents o.
Democratic thought in the country, all o
them agreeing on this single thought with
unapimity unexampled, that the only
principle of the Democratic party Is N,
deSireof spoiis, for that is the plain Englist
Of what the New York Herald and all those
papers say.
Principles, policies, questions OF political
economy, the tariff, silver, currency, pro
lection, free trade, state rights, education
internal improvements, are all as nothing
the only question is the retention Of power
the chance to hold the offices.
That is Democracy, pure and undellel-
just as It comes from the still. The batJl,
cry is, Give us the offices, principles can g
to the devil"